For many, learning to skate is a fundamental part of growing up in Canada. However, the cost of skates can be prohibitive for many families.
    The Delia Arena is aiming to help children and adults alike enjoy the winter activity.
    Anyone with skates that are no longer being used are encouraged to donate their skates to the arena, so that others, many of whom are children, may borrow them for free when heading out on to the ice.
    Many school groups utilize the arena throughout the week and not all of the children have their own skates.
    “The school kids always need skates, because a lot don’t have their own. Today, we had Grade 5 and 6 kids. Out of 30 kids, about nine needed skates. It’s about the same ratio with other classes,” said Stan Hanson, manager of the Delia Arena.
    The arena has been collecting skates for awhile, but after reorganizing their collection has put a call out for donations of skates and helmets. The arena currently has between 50 and 60 pairs of skates, encompassing a wide range of sizes.
    “There are skates to use here. I can’t guarantee I have the right size though. We’ve always had skates here, but they were just thrown in buckets and not really organized. I’ve spent some time sorting them out and things have gone from there,” said Hanson.
    The program comes at a time when a new pair of skates can be prohibitively expensive.
    “A friend of mine just bought a pair for almost $400,” said Hanson. “There’s so much going on, it (buying a new pair of skates) might not be a priority. Some of the kids are just learning to skate now.”
    Anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to drop off skates at the Delia Arena or the Delia Village Office.
    The arena hosts public skates on Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend, borrow some skates, and participate in one of Canada’s most quintessential activities.

    The board of Prairie Land Regional School Division is feeling good after a meeting with Minister of Education Jeff Johnson last week in Hanna.
    On the list of topics was the imminent closure of Hanna Primary School.
    The PLRD board highlighted the difficulty of closing Hanna Primary in the timeline set out by Minister Johnson, which was to close the school by the end of the current school year.
    Under normal circumstances, a school division must close the school in question in the same academic year as the motion to close is passed. However, the PLRD board requested an extension so they may adequately modernize J.C. Charyk School, which will be transformed into a K-12 school.
    Minister Johnson agreed the extension would be appropriate and indicated the J.C. Charyk modernization is a high priority capital project slated for provincial funding in the near future. However, the price of crude bitumen has caused provincial revenues to fall considerably and other priorities may delay the modernization project.
    In a statement on the PLRD website, the board has pledged to continue to operate Hanna Primary until the completion of the J.C. Charyk modernization project.
    In addition, the PLRD board highlighted the need for a reinstatement of rural stabilization funding for remote rural school boards and removal of the transportation funding cap, currently set at one student per 3 square kilometres. PLRD currently has one student per 6.5 square kilometres, which is beyond the cap.
    Lastly, the board expressed a vision, to which Johnson agreed, for rural education needs to include programs relevant for rural students, such as learning opportunities based on the economic and employment priorities of rural communities. Also, such a vision would help students realize their career goals.
    The meeting was described as being positive. Now that Johnson has given his blessing for an extension of the Hanna Primary closure, the school will continue to operate for the foreseeable future.